For every 1 T.O. I bet there are 100 players that are fiscally responsible. Let's not paint all players with this broad paint brush.

Not according to this (but I don't know where his numbers come from):

Roughly 80% of all NFL athletes file bankruptcy withing two years of retirement. The major reason for this is divorce. You can read about it here. I have a page on my website that deals specifically with the troubles professional athletes face with financial literacy. You would not believe how many of these guys go broke quickly.

Not sure why the players' union doesn't have a list of approved financial advisors and basically forces the players to hire an advisor.

If I were dirt poor for most of my life, not well-educated on money management, and suddenly fell into millions at the age of 22, I would have a hard time managing my money too.

The NFL puts on the rookie symposium every year in an attempt to get them going down the right path. I'm sure one of the talking points revolves around financial management. It was reported a few years ago, that some rookies would either skip out on many of the sessions, or sleep through the ones they do attend.

Couldn't happen to a more deserving idiot.Next up. All his 'friends' desert him.

We seem to take such pleasure in the pain of these athletes that squander their money and I don't really understand why. Sure it's frustrating to see someone blow all that money and we all think that if we just had $1m we would be set for life. But I would bet a large percentage of the people on this board struggle with finances everyday. Even people who make a nice living. We say things like, as soon as I get that next promotion or raise, I'll be all set...then we buy a new car (sure, not a Maybach) and get right back to the struggle. The athletes are the same, just living on a much bigger scale, and then they stop earning in their late 20's or if they are lucky, their 30's.

Saying all that, it would seem like $80m would be enough not to screw it up too much, but even if TO invested, he went through 9/11 and this recent recesstion during his earning days and could have lost millions during each of these.

Like many here, I'm sure, my grandparents came to this country dirt poor and took whatever labor that would hire them. They saved and sacrificed, raised a large family and everyone turned out fine. No one had to tell them how to look after their money.

When I first heard of Shaqs degree, I figured it was an honorary degree.Its good to hear that it was earned (although you do have to wonder if his money and fame had any help with him "earning" it)But the reason why this is news is because when it comes to these star athletes atleast, its very rarely ever done.

Don't knock the Womans studies or Turkish History majors out there, I'm sure they have found plenty of work in their fields and put those degrees to great use............

Sadly, those bolded items don't seem like huge expenses when you have over $6 mil. I expected more like him having a big car collection with multiple homes, not just over $10 grand in shoes, watch and a rug

Just saying, 240 pairs of shoes is kinda why these idiots go bankrupt. Like the NFL clinics try to explain to these people, it doesn't last forever and limit what you buy. It probably is because of all the houses,cars and women.

Even with all that college background you would think that most of them could have some self control. Instead the reality is most don't even consider life after the NFL, they think it was last forever. The average lifespan of an NFL player is 3 years.

Just saying, 240 pairs of shoes is kinda why these idiots go bankrupt. Like the NFL clinics try to explain to these people, it doesn't last forever and limit what you buy. It probably is because of all the houses,cars and women.

Even with all that college background you would think that most of them could have some self control. Instead the reality is most don't even consider life after the NFL, they think it was last forever. The average lifespan of an NFL player is 3 years.

Not arguing, I don't think anyone (although woman may argue it) needs a pair of shoes for almost every day of the year, but thats only $6,500 of over $6 million. Thats barely a percent of his money. $6,500 in shoes isn't why he went broke

As for Todzilla, We all went through those same things he did. TO didn't go broke because of 9/11 and the recession.............

If he is spending like a drunken sailor. At 320k a year, that would be 1.28 million. Consider that a person making 50k a year (well above the average 26,364 a year salary) would take almost 26 years to make that amount.

If they invested half of that amount then they be more than set for life.

Based on SI's article above, you may wish to evaluate your comment, and do a bit of research first next time.

with in two years of retirement 78% of NFL players are broke or in bankrupcy. Wow. I know we are acapitalistic society and people can spend their money how they feel, but the league needs to also look at this 'epidemic'.

Forcing players to set aside a certain percent every year should be praised by the players association. The so called rookie weekends where former players come in and tell their stories is not working.

I for one do not reveal in another mans missfortune, that is just bad karma and unhealthy. These players also sacrificed their bodies so we could watch and be entertained by them. I am not saying they are worthy of the Noble Peace Prize or anything, but would like to see them able to enjoy the rest of their lives. Many already have to deal with medical ailments, financial ones can debilitate them just as much. Ultimately a mixture of the two, physical and financial, can lead to the growing number of suicides we are witnessing.

We had a guy Named Vincent who had a finance management company who almost became the Comm. of football. He should have. Smart guy. He has tried real hard to help these ego heavy boys. Many articles about him when he played for us. Too bad he didn't become the man because I believe he would have had a program for the new BOYS coming into the lights. Not a meeting but a program. Invest a % and be good for life. Shame yes. Feel sorry for them NO.